Former leading Irish hurdler Celestial Wave has been put down at stud. The mare, trained by Adrian Maguire, had been a leading fancy for the 2007 World Hurdle at Cheltenham before injury ruled her out of the Festival.

A winner of seven of her 10 starts, and placed in the other three, she was due to start a breeding career.

"She was examined by the vet and he found there was a rupture inside her and nothing could be done so she had to be put down," said Maguire.

The County Cork-based trainer, who won the 1992 Gold Cup as a jockey on Cool Ground, paid tribute to the mare who had given him a flying start to his fledgling training career.

"She was a superstar. We all thought she was going to enjoy the rest of her days at stud. It's very unfortunate what has happened," he added.